Our Mission:

My first husband, Capt. Jerry Zimmer, was an F4B Phantom jet pilot, whose aircraft was shot down on August 29, 1969, approximately 20 miles South of Da Nang, Vietnam, after six months in country. Neither Jerry nor his navigator, 1st Lt. Al Graf, was able to eject, before the aircraft crashed into the Que Son Mountains. Initially Jerry and Al were classified as Killed in Action/No Body Recovered (KIA/NBR). Years later, both Marines were listed as MIA, along with other service members whose bodies were never recovered.

Jerry has been gone nearly a half century, and hope for recovering his remains had run out a long time ago. However, in recent years our family became involved with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), now merged with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), and learned that Jerry’s and Al’s remains might, in fact, be recoverable, so we are doing everything possible to support their efforts to make this happen and bring our guys home where they belong.

Da Nang, Vietnam Current Weather

NOTE: BLOG POSTS ARE NOT UPDATED, SO INFORMATION MAY HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME.

Archive for January, 2014

Our family traditionally closes the East Coast-West Coast gap during the holidays and gets together at our home in southern California. We always try to take an annual photo, and this year was no exception. It’s a comical crapshoot at best, but we want new and old friends to know us in a very personal way. Namely, that we are one of the many MIA families dedicated to bringing home the remains of a loved one from Vietnam — in our case, my first husband and Craig’s father, Capt Jerry Zimmer, USMC. Thank you for following our journey.

In August/September 2013, I returned to Vietnam and met the wonderful JPAC team that conducted another excavation phase at Jerry’s and Al’s crash site. The team found more evidence but no remains. I also attended my first repatriation ceremony, held on the tarmac of Da Nang International Airport – formerly known as Da Nang Airbase, where many of our Marines, including Jerry, and Air Force pilots, were stationed during the war. Looking ahead, we are still hopeful, dedicated and will continue to keep everyone in the loop through updates posted on the blog.

Military Historical Tours & Group in Da Nang

(L-R, Front) Tour Leaders Ed Garr, 1st; John Powell, 5th

While in Da Nang, I also had an opportunity to link up with Military Historical Tours – timing is everything and certainly describes my chance to finally meet and have dinner with Ed Garr and John Powell, who are considered among the best guides in the business and a lot more. Both served in Vietnam – Ed with the Marine Corps, and John the Army. Stay tuned for my upcoming military travel blog with Ed and John serving as my “guides.” The military travel market is burgeoning, and MHT is tops in the business.

FAREWELL TO DOUG REESE — A VIETNAM FRIEND

I was deeply saddened by the death of my good friend, Doug Reese, 66, who passed away of cancer, three days before Christmas. Doug left behind his beautiful Vietnamese wife, Nhung, along with their three-year-old daughter, Samantha, both of whom gave him unbelievable joy, especially in his final days.

Doug was like most of us – nondescript in looks, but unlike most, a guy you never forgot after meeting him. In the five years that I knew Doug, he never once said a nasty word about anyone. Nor did he ever betray a friendship, and he had a zillion friends, dating back to elementary school. I know that for a fact, since Chuck Reeves was one of those guys from the “old” neighborhood.

Through Chuck, a Marine Corps pilot and Vietnam veteran and now head of Qualcomm’s corporate flight program in San Diego, I recently learned of Doug’s Silver Star – a huge honor that Doug received during the Vietnam War as a young Army Lieutenant. The Silver Star is our nation’s third highest military decoration for valor, and Doug’s bravery saved many of his fellow soldiers, according to the official citation describing his actions. We had countless personal conversations, but he never mentioned his Silver Star, but that was Doug.

2009: Doug & Hoa in Hoi An, after a day of helping our family find Jerry’s crash site. Hoa was our guide, translator and friend.

When you read about Jerry’s case, please know that Doug was there for us, just as he was for many returning POWs and Vietnam War families, who needed a guiding hand in a country where memories can play tricks, even on the best of us. For more information, visit http://www.shirleybrothersfriends.com/team/459.

THANKSGIVING IN INDIA — HUMANITARIAN SUCCESS STORY

Seeing Is Believing! Jeevarathni is home to 33 adorable children, and the above are a small sample.

After several years of hoping to visit India, the opportunity came during the Thanksgiving holiday. No turkey this year, but visiting Jeevarathni Orphanage gave new meaning to the word “thankful.”

My connection to Jeevarathni was through my husband Ron’s friendship with Manoj Cherian, a retired Indian Army officer, who now works for Qualcomm India. A few years ago Manoj was visiting San Diego and told me that his family had recently opened an orphanage for 33 children in an area outside of Bangalore.

The inspiration behind the orphanage was his brother-in-law, Captain K.J. Samual (Joey), also a retired military officer, who flew helicopters in the Indian Army. Joey and a partner started Deccan Air, which was later sold to Kingfisher Air. Joey’s good fortune provided seed money for the orphanage named after his mother, Jeevarathni. The orphanage is now growing in size, as is support from private donors and corporations.

Manoj is a favorite at Jeevarathni and explains that the visitors brought the chocolate cakes to celebrate four birthdays among them.

The kids are now learning to use computers, which were recently donated to the orphanage by IBM. They attend school locally, have access to medical care and are thrilled when visitors arrive, especially those who come bearing edible gifts. Needless to say, Ron and I were a hit with a couple of chocolate birthday cakes in hand – we were treated like family with the kids calling us Uncle and Auntie.

Cool is still cool wherever you live!

I cried when we were preparing to leave. One of the children said to me, “Auntie’s crying!” I kissed her and told her they were tears of joy, and I meant every word. Jeevarathni has given these children hope in a country where positive sentiments don’t always reap positive results. Check out www.jeevarathni.org/